The transformation of natural habitats into human-modified landscapes has far-reaching consequences for species distribution and abundance.As species adapt to these changing environments,shifts in distribution pattern...The transformation of natural habitats into human-modified landscapes has far-reaching consequences for species distribution and abundance.As species adapt to these changing environments,shifts in distribution patterns,niche dynamics,and interspecies interactions may occur,impacting biodiversity at multiple levels and potentially leading to ecosystem imbalances.This study aims to assess the impact of variations in vegetation composition and human disturbance on the distribution of sympatric breeding birds and to determine the extent of niche overlap or differentiation among these species.We conducted field surveys and collected data on bird distribution,vegetation composition,and level of human disturbance in eastern Inner Mongolian grasslands.We focused on the six most frequently co-occurring breeding birds,representing a mix of sparrows,larks,and corvids.Generalized Additive Models revealed varying responses of species occurrence along habitat gradients.Species like the Eurasian Skylark(Alauda arvensis),Mongolian Lark(Melanocorypha mongolica),and Asian Shorttoed Lark(Calandrella cheleensis),increased in larger and more connected habitats,while others,like the Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus),Eurasian Magpie(Pica pica),and Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica),adapted to more fragmented habitats.Niche analysis indicated habitat generalists tended to occupy larger niches than grassland specialists.Substantial niche overlap was also found among the six co-occurring bird species.Conservation efforts should consider the specific needs of specialist species and strive to maintain or restore critical grassland habitats.Additionally,promoting sustainable agricultural practices that balance the needs of birds and human activities can contribute to the coexistence of generalist and specialist bird species in modified landscapes.展开更多
The Asian Houbara(Chlamydotis macqueenii),a vulnerable species,is under significant threat from habitat degradation and anthropogenic pressures in Pakistan's arid landscapes.This study addresses the urgent need fo...The Asian Houbara(Chlamydotis macqueenii),a vulnerable species,is under significant threat from habitat degradation and anthropogenic pressures in Pakistan's arid landscapes.This study addresses the urgent need for conservation by identifying critical habitats,analyzing the influence of environmental and human factors on species distribution,and projecting future habitat shifts under climate change scenarios.Using the Max Ent model,which achieves a robust predictive accuracy(AUC=0.854),we mapped current and future habitat suitability under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways(SSP126,SSP370,SSP585)for the years 2040 and 2070.Presently,the suitable habitat extends over 217,082 km^(2),with 52,751 km^(2) classified as highly suitable.Key environmental drivers,identified via the Jackknife test,revealed that annual mean temperature(Bio1)and slope play a dominant role in determining habitat suitability.Projections show significant habitat degradation;however,under SSP585,highly suitable areas are expected to expand by up to 24.92%by 2070.Despite this increase,vast areas remain unsuitable,posing serious risks to population sustainability.Moreover,only 2115 km^(2) of highly suitable habitat currently falls within protected zones,highlighting a critical conservation shortfall.These findings highlight the imperative for immediate,targeted conservation efforts to secure the species'future in Pakistan's desert ecosystems.展开更多
Protecting rare,endemic,and endangered species requires careful habitat evaluation to set strategic plans for mitigating biodiversity loss and prioritizing conservation goals.The endangered Asian elephant(Elephas maxi...Protecting rare,endemic,and endangered species requires careful habitat evaluation to set strategic plans for mitigating biodiversity loss and prioritizing conservation goals.The endangered Asian elephant(Elephas maximus)exemplifies the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts,given its challenging habitat conditions.This study examines the impact of climate and land use changes on the suitable habitat distribution of Asian elephants.Utilizing ten predictor variables,including climatic,topographic,and land use data,and employing six ensemble Species Distribution Models(SDMs)alongside Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 data,the study estimates spatial changes and potential habitat expansions for Asian elephants across Tropical Asia.Occurrence data were gathered from field surveys in Bangladesh and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database for Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Bhutan,Cambodia,India,Laos,Nepal,Thailand,and Vietnam.To evaluate habitat suitability,the analysis considered two distinct socioeconomic pathways(SSP 245 and SSP 370)across two future periods(2041–2060 and 2061–2080).Results reveal a strong correlation between isothermality and habitat suitability,with higher isothermality enhancing the habitat conditions for Asian elephants.Among the SDMs,the random forest model demonstrated the highest performance.Projected scenarios indicate significant habitat fragmentation by 2061–2080,heightening the risk of species’vulnerability.Specifically,in SSP 245,the north zone is anticipated to experience a higher rate of habitat loss(588.443 km^(2)/year),whereas,in SSP 370,the west zone is expected to face a more severe rate of habitat loss(1,798.56 km^(2)/year).The eastern zone,which includes Cambodia,Vietnam,Laos,Thailand,and southern Myanmar,is notably at risk,with an estimated habitat loss of 14.8 million hectares.Anticipated changes in climate and land cover will impact the availability of essential resources such as food,water,and shelter,potentially driving the species to relocate to different elevation belts.The outcomes of the consensus map highlighting critical habitats and future fragmentation scenarios will support effective conservation and management strategies for the species.展开更多
The authors regret that the scientific names of some species mentioned in the paper were incorrectly presented.The incorrect sci-entific names,their locations in the paper,correct spellings and refer-ences,are listed ...The authors regret that the scientific names of some species mentioned in the paper were incorrectly presented.The incorrect sci-entific names,their locations in the paper,correct spellings and refer-ences,are listed below.展开更多
Abundant food supply is crucial for the survival of long-distance migratory birds.The continued population decline of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper(Calidris pygmeae),a critically endangered shorebird,is primarily attribu...Abundant food supply is crucial for the survival of long-distance migratory birds.The continued population decline of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper(Calidris pygmeae),a critically endangered shorebird,is primarily attributed to habitat loss and degradation.However,significant gaps remain in research on their diet and foraging habitat selection,limiting effective conservation and restoration efforts.In this study,we investigated the composition of macrobenthic communities,analyzing habitat and prey selection at the main foraging area of SBS in Tiaozini,Jiangsu Province of eastern China—their most critical staging site during southward migration.Our findings revealed 25 species of macrobenthos in foraging areas,with mobile epibenthos comprising the largest group by biomass,accounting for 73%,and having higher density and biomass nearshore.Observations of foraging Spoon-billed Sandpiper individuals indicated that shallow water habitats were their preferred foraging environments,where mobile epibenthos,which thrive in these habitats after the tide recedes,made up 81%of their biomass intake.We propose that shallow water habitats in intertidal mudflats serve as essential refuges for mobile epibenthos after tidal retreat,thereby providing Spoon-billed Sandpipers with access to high-quality food resources.Habitat protection efforts should prioritize habitats harboring extensive microhabitats with shallow water,especially the nearshore area,and further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the formation of these microhabitats,with the ultimate goal of restoring more high-quality habitats for the Spoonbilled Sandpiper.展开更多
We modeled foraging habitats of Hume’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) on a macro-habitat level using ArcGIS in an attempt to provide scientific reference for management and restoration of habitats. Field work was condu...We modeled foraging habitats of Hume’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) on a macro-habitat level using ArcGIS in an attempt to provide scientific reference for management and restoration of habitats. Field work was conducted from March to April in 2006 and 2008, and from October to November in 2005 and 2008 in Dazhong Mountain, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. The selection of ecological factors was estimated by means of a resource selection index, distance analysis and the method of hierarchical habitat selection. The foraging habitat patches were modeled spatially by ArcGIS. The results show that actual and potential foraging patches overlapped considerably in spring and autumn. The number and total areas of patches in the autumn were smaller than those in the spring. The minimum and average areas of patches in the autumn were larger than those in the spring, while the maximum areas of actual and potential foraging patches in the autumn were equal to those in the spring. Similarity in the selection for survival and safety consideration in both seasons was the main strategy for landscape factors of habitats by Hume’s Pheasant, while seasonal difference in selecting a landscape matrix was their secondary strategy, affecting landscape factors in the habitat. Changes of foraging patches in both seasons reflect a difference of resources requirement by the bird. Fragmentation and miniaturization of foraging patches would result in the formation of a meta-population of Hume’s Pheasant.展开更多
[Objective] This study was conducted to determinate the contents of poliumoside and forsythoside B in Callicarpa kwangtungensis,so as to reveal the distribution of two index components（poliumoside and forsythoside B...[Objective] This study was conducted to determinate the contents of poliumoside and forsythoside B in Callicarpa kwangtungensis,so as to reveal the distribution of two index components（poliumoside and forsythoside B） in the plant and to compare the contents of these components in the medicinal materials from different habitats.[Methods] Comparison and analysis of the contents of the two target components in different parts（root,branch,leaf and fruit） of Callicarpa kwangtungensis from the same habitat and in Callicarpa kwangtungensis from different production areas were performed according to the pharmacopoeia standard.[Result]The highest content of poliumoside wasdetected in fruit,and the content of forsythoside B was the highest in the branch.The contents of the two kinds of components were in order of branch fruit leafroot;The contents of the components were four times higher than China pharmacopeia（0.5%） in Jian,Tonggu,Anyuan,and Ganzhou of Jiangxi Province and the fifth area,Taijiang County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture（QMDAP）,among which Ganzhou and Taijiang showed the highest contents.[Conclusion] The differences of poliumoside and forsythoside B were obvious in different habitats and different parts of Callicarpa kwangtungensis.展开更多
Town-and-city concentration area is confronted with ecological degeneration due to the expansion of urbanization,and enriching urban bio-diversity is conducive to the improvement of ecological function of urban green ...Town-and-city concentration area is confronted with ecological degeneration due to the expansion of urbanization,and enriching urban bio-diversity is conducive to the improvement of ecological function of urban green system.The paper has studied how to increase urban bio-diversity by making use of urban green lands for protection and construction of wild animals' habitats,and proposed the significance and theoretical idea for protection and construction of wild animals' habitats.By taking ecological green lands design in Qinglongchang of Chengdu City for example,it has analyzed the current situation of animals' diversity;proposed to plan corridor,construct biological channel and provide multiporous habitats;listed plants' selection and collocation mode;and finally illustrated how to set artificial facilities for attraction of animals.It hopes to provide a reference for the design of ecological green lands in cities advocating the harmonious development of living environment and natural environment.展开更多
Species abundance and habitat distribution are two important aspects of species conservation studies and both are affected by similar environmental factors. Forest resource inventory data in 2010 were used to evaluate...Species abundance and habitat distribution are two important aspects of species conservation studies and both are affected by similar environmental factors. Forest resource inventory data in 2010 were used to evaluate the patterns of habitat for target species of Cervidae in six typical forestry bureaus of the Yichun forest area in the Lesser Xing’an Mountains, northeastern China. A habitat suitability index(HSI) model was used based on elevation, slope, aspect, vegetation and age of tree. These five environmental factors were selected by boosted regression tree(BRT) analysis from 14 environmental variables collected during field surveys. Changes in habitat caused by anthropogenic activities mainly involving settlement and road factors were also considered. The results identified 1780.49 km2 of most-suitable and 1770.70 km2 of unsuitable habitat areas under natural conditions, covering 16.38% and 16.29% of the entire study area, respectively. The area of most-suitable habitat had been reduced by 4.86% when human interference was taken into account, whereas the unsuitable habitat area had increased by 11.3%, indicating that anthropogenic disturbance turned some potential habitats into unsuitable ones. Landscape metrics indicated that average patch area declined while patch density and edge density increased. This suggests that as habitat becomes fragmented and its quality becomes degraded by human activities, cervid populations will be threatened with extirpation. The study helped identify the spatial extent of habitat influenced by anthropogenic interference for the local cervid population. As cervid species clearly avoid human activities, more attention should be paid on considering the way and intensity of human activities for habitat management as fully as possible.展开更多
Comparative studies of sympatric species are essential for understanding behavioral and ecological adaptation as well as the mechanisms that can reduce resource competition to allow coexistence. Francois＇ langurs （T...Comparative studies of sympatric species are essential for understanding behavioral and ecological adaptation as well as the mechanisms that can reduce resource competition to allow coexistence. Francois＇ langurs （Trachypithecus francoisi） and Assamese macaques （Macaca assamensis） are sympatric primate species found in the limestone seasonal rainforests of Nonggang Nature Reserve, southwestern Guangxi, China. To explore their different adaptation strategies, we collected data on diet using scan sampling at 15-min intervals. Our results revealed that Francois＇ langurs showed a more flexible diet composition than Assamese macaques Francois＇ langurs increased dietary diversity and mature leaf consumption in response to seasonal scarcity of preferred young leaves and fruits, whereas Assamese macaques relied heavily on young bamboo leaves （Indocalamus calcicolus） in most months These variations reflect the differences in digestive physiology, morphology, and the temporal and spatial distribution of food resources.展开更多
Objective:To determine the effects of environmental parameters of lanal habitats on distribution and abundance of anopheline mosquitoes in Rudan county of Iran.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted during t...Objective:To determine the effects of environmental parameters of lanal habitats on distribution and abundance of anopheline mosquitoes in Rudan county of Iran.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted during the mosquito breeding season from February 2010 to October 2011. The anopheline larvae were collected using the standard dipping method,the specimens were identified using a morphological-based key.Simultaneously with larvay collection,environmental parameters of the larval habitats including water current and turbidity,sunlight situation,and substrate type of habitats were recorded.Water samples were taken from breeding sites during lanal collection.Before collection of samples,the water temperature was measured.The water samples were analysed for turbidity,conductivity,total alkalinity,total dissolved solid.pH and ions including chloride,sulphate,calcium,and magnesium.Statistical correlation analysis and ANOVA test were used to analyze the association between environmental parameters and larval mosquito abundance.Results:In total 2 973 lanae of the genus Anopheles were collected from 25 larval habitats and identified using morphological characters.They comprised of six species: An.dthali(53.21%),An.stephensi(24.22%),An.culicifacies(14.06%),An.superpictus(4.07%),An. turkhudi(3.30%),and An.apoci(1.14%).The most abundant species was An.dthali which were collected from all of the study areas.Larvae of two malaria vectors.An.dthali and An.stephensi, co-existed and collected in a wide range of habitats with different physico-chemical parameters. The most common larval habitats were man-made sites such as sand mining pools with clean and still water.The anopheline mosquitoes also preferred permanent habitats in sunlight with sandy substrates.The results indicated that there was a significant relationship between mean physicochemical parameters such as water temperature,conductivity,total alkalinity,sulphate,chloride, and mosquito distribution and abundance.Conclusions:The results of this study showed a correlation between certain environmental parameters and mosquito lanae abundance,and these parameters should be considered in planning and implementing larval control programs.展开更多
The intestinal bacteria of vertebrates form a close relationship with their host.External and internal conditions of the host,including its habitat,affect the intestinal bacterial community.Similarly,the intestinal ba...The intestinal bacteria of vertebrates form a close relationship with their host.External and internal conditions of the host,including its habitat,affect the intestinal bacterial community.Similarly,the intestinal bacterial community can,in turn,influence the host,particularly with respect to disease resistance.We compared the intestinal bacterial communities of grass carp that were collected from farm-ponds or a lake.We conducted denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of amplified 16S rRNA genes,from which 66 different operational taxonomic units were identified.Using both the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means clustering and principal component analysis ordination,we found that the intestinal bacterial communities from the two groups of pond fish were clustered together and inset into the clusters of wild fish,except for DF-7,and there was no significant correlation between genetic diversity of grass carp and their intestinal bacterial communities(Mantel one-tailed test,R=0.157,P=0.175).Cetobacterium appeared more frequently in the intestine of grass carp collected from pond.A more thorough understanding of the role played by intestinal microbiota on fish health would be of considerable benefit to the aquaculture industry.展开更多
Objective Faunal health is largely dependent on their soil environment and available litter quality. So the effects of different soil habitats and pesticides on citrate synthase (CS) activity of soil fauna and its pop...Objective Faunal health is largely dependent on their soil environment and available litter quality. So the effects of different soil habitats and pesticides on citrate synthase (CS) activity of soil fauna and its population were studied. Methods The soil animals were collected from different pedoecosystems for habitat study. Whereas Vigna radiata based system was selected for pesticidal observations. The field was divided into five equal plots for control and treatment of γ-BHC, quinalphos, carbaryl and cypermethrin. Soil fauna was collected by quadrat method and extracted by Tullgren funnel. Individuals of a species having similar sizes were collected for the estimation of CS activity. They were homogenized and fractions were obtained by differential centrifugation. The activity of CS was assayed spectrophotometrically. Results Citrate synthase (CS) activity of beetle (Rasphytus fregi), woodlouse (Porcellio laevis) and centipede (Scolopendra morsitans) varied significantly with respect to changes in different soil habitats. Though the CS activity of R. fregi, P. laevis, and S. morsitans differed among themselves but the highest activity of CS in these animals was in V. radiata and lowest in A. nilotica based pedoecosystem. The aerobic capacity of centipede was maximum followed by woodlouse and beetle. The treatment of γ-BHC, quinalphos, carbaryl and cypermethrin significantly reduced the CS activity of these animals. γ-BHC showed maximum reduction in CS activity indicating highly toxic effect of organochlorine on aerobic metabolism of soil fauna. However, minimum reduction was observed in response to carbaryl (in beetle) or cypermethrin (in woodlouse/centipede) leading to impairment of aerobic capacity. The differences in pesticide effects might be assigned to the differences in chemical nature of pesticides and their interactions with below-ground fauna. Treatment of γ-BHC and quinalphos reduced the population of Acari, Coleoptera, Collembola, other arthropods as well as total soil fauna. Acari was least affected by γ-BHC and maximally affected (72%) in response to quinalphos. The effect of γ-BHC was fairly similar on Coleoptera, Collembola, other arthropod and total soil fauna suggesting almost similar sensitivity to this pesticide. Likewise, quinalphos was similarly effective on Collemobola and other soil arthropods. Application of carbaryl decreased Acari and Coleoptera population but increased Collembola, other arthropods and total faunal populations. However, application of cypermethrin significantly reduced the population of Acari, Coleoptera, Collembola and total soil fauna and increased the population of other soil arthropods. In both the cases, acarine population was least affected. Conclusion The observations show the habitat-specific variation in aerobic capacity of soil fauna. However, pesticide-dependent loss in population might be due to impairment of aerobic capacity of soil inhabiting animals in desert.展开更多
Oyster reefs have an equivalent, complex 3-dimensional structure to vegetated habitats and may provide similar functions in estuarine environments. Nevertheless, few studies have compared oyster reefs with adjacent na...Oyster reefs have an equivalent, complex 3-dimensional structure to vegetated habitats and may provide similar functions in estuarine environments. Nevertheless, few studies have compared oyster reefs with adjacent natural shallow-water habitats. Here the resident benthic macroinvertebrate communities in an artificial oyster （Crassostrea ariakensis） reef and in adjacent natural estuarine shallow-water habitats （salt marsh, intertidal mudflat, and subtidal soft bottom） in the Changjiang （Yangtze） River estuary were described. The mean total densities and biomass, Margalef＇s species richness, Pielou＇s evenness and Shannon-Weaver biodiversity indices of the resident benthic macroinvertebrate communities differed significantly among the habitats. Significantly higher densities and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates occurred in the oyster reef compared with the other three habitats. Ordination plots showed a clear separation in benthic macroinvertebrate communities among the four habitat types. The results demonstrated that the artificial oyster reef supported distinct and unique benthic communities, playing an important role in the complex estuarine habitat by supplying prey resources and contributing to biodiversity. In addition, the results suggested that the oyster reef had been restored successfully.展开更多
Combining some information from field investigation of algae along the coastal areas in China and a few pictures materialized from the western Yellow Sea in 2008,authors analyze the necessary conditions and possible w...Combining some information from field investigation of algae along the coastal areas in China and a few pictures materialized from the western Yellow Sea in 2008,authors analyze the necessary conditions and possible water area in China producing a large biomass,some reasons for firestorm,and the possibility of the reappearance of marine bloom green alga Enteromorpha prolifera.The change of habitats and the increase of nutritional levels related to the water area could be considered as direct reasons.It was transferred northward by the combination of the flow of rainwater,wind and alongshore marine current.The original region of large biomass produced is possibly located in the southwestern Yellow sea.It will possibly be appearing again in the coming years or in the future.A summary is also given referring to its reproduction,development and distribution worldwide.展开更多
Objective:To determine the larval habitats of mosquito fauna and possible impact of land use/land cover changes on the epidemiology of mosquito-bome diseases in Osogbo metropolis,Southwestern,Nigeria.Methods:All acces...Objective:To determine the larval habitats of mosquito fauna and possible impact of land use/land cover changes on the epidemiology of mosquito-bome diseases in Osogbo metropolis,Southwestern,Nigeria.Methods:All accessible larval habitats were surveyed between May and September,2011in Osogbo metropolis while Land Use/Land cover of the city was analyzed using 2 Lansat Multispectral Scanner satellite imagery of SPOT 1986 and T.ANDSAT TM 2009.Results:A total of six species namely,Aedes aegypti,Aedes albopictus,Aedes vittatus,Anopheles gambiae complex,Culex quinquefascialus and Erelmapodite chrysogaster were encountered during the study.The occurrence and contribution of disused tyres was significantly higher(P<0.05)than the other habitats encountered,while there were no significant differences in the contribution of gutters/run-offs.septic tanks/drums,ground pools/open drains and discarded containers lo the breeding of mosquitoes(P>0.05).The accessible land use/land covered of the study area between 1986 and 2009 showed that the wet land coverage and settlement area increased from 0.19 lo 9.09 hectare and 1.00 to 2.01 hectare respectively while the forest area decreased from 60.18 to 50.14 hectare.Conclusion:The contribution of the habitats coupled with the increasing rale of flooded environment which could provide ample breeding sites for mosquitoes call for sustained environmental sanitation and management in Osogbo metropolis.展开更多
The morphological characteristics of the dorsal skin of trunk in two species of hynobiid salamanders, Batrachuperus pinchonii and Hynobius chinensis were examined by light microscopy. The basic structures of the skin ...The morphological characteristics of the dorsal skin of trunk in two species of hynobiid salamanders, Batrachuperus pinchonii and Hynobius chinensis were examined by light microscopy. The basic structures of the skin in the two species are similar and consist of two layers： epidermis and dermis. The epidermis consists of stratum corneum, stratum intermedium and stratum germinativum, while the dermis is composed of a stratum spongiosum and stratum compactum. However, some species-specific variation has been identified （e.g., the distribution of capillary vessels and gland cells, and the thickness of skin）. H. chinensis is a terrestrial species and only lives in water during breeding period, but B. pinchonii is aquatic and remains aquatic throughout its lifetime. The differences in the distribution of capillary vessels and gland cells are related to their different habitats, and show a morphological adaptation.展开更多
To enhance our understanding of dietary adaptations in macaques we studied the diet of the Assamese macaque Macaca assamensis in limestone seasonal rain forests at Nonggang Nature Reserve, China from September 2005 to...To enhance our understanding of dietary adaptations in macaques we studied the diet of the Assamese macaque Macaca assamensis in limestone seasonal rain forests at Nonggang Nature Reserve, China from September 2005 to August 2006. Our results show that although macaques fed on many plant species, 85.2% of the diet came from only 12 species, of which a bamboo species, Indocalamus calcicolus contributed to 62% of the diet. Young leaves were staple food items （74.1% of the diet） for Assamese macaques at Nonggang, and constituted the bulk of monthly diets almost year-round, ranging from 44.9% （July） to 92.9% （May）. Young parts of Indocalamus calcicolus unexpanded leaves contributed to a large proportion of the young leaf diet in most months. Fruit accounted for only 17.4% of the diet, with a peak of consumption in July. We suggest that this highly fo- livorous diet may be related to the long lean season of fruit availability in limestone habitats as well as the utilization of cliffs of low fruit availability展开更多
Background: Wetland loss and degradation result in a reduction in the availability and quality of food for wintering waterbirds. Birds normally modify their foraging behavior to adapt to variations in food availabilit...Background: Wetland loss and degradation result in a reduction in the availability and quality of food for wintering waterbirds. Birds normally modify their foraging behavior to adapt to variations in food availability. In this study, we compared shifts in foraging behavior of Hooded Cranes(Grus monacha) in three different habitats at Shengjin Lake, China to understand the response of these cranes to changes in habitat.Methods: We investigated the food density and foraging behavior of Hooded Cranes in Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve from November 2014 to April 2015. We used regression equations to describe the changes in food density. A total of 397 behavioral observations were used in the analyses of their foraging efforts. We fitted a candidate set of generalized mixed linear models to analyze the relationship of foraging efforts and food density. We used a method of information theory to guide the selection of the model and Akaike's Information Criterion to calculate the value of each model. The relationship between food density, disturbances and foraging behavior was illustrated using a generalized linear model.Results: Along with the temporal variation and exploitation of food biomass, the food density varied widely among foraging sites. During the early winter period, foraging efforts were more pronounced in the paddy fields and meadows but not significantly different among the three habitats. The cranes spent more foraging effort in the paddy fields and meadows during the middle stage and in the meadows and mudflats during the late winter. The results of the generalized linear model showed that food density and disturbances had different effects on the rate of foraging success during the winter, while the effect of foraging effort was not significant. Furthermore, the rate of feeding success was markedly affected by disturbances in the paddy fields. The combined action of food density and disturbances had a significant effect on the rate of foraging success in the meadows, while the effect of foraging effort was also not significant in three habitats.Conclusions: Changes in foraging behavior were significant in three habitats, which were affected by food density and disturbances. The rate of foraging success increased in the habitat with low food density and low disturbances to increase the foraging efficiency in the lake. With abundant food and a high level of disturbance, the rate of foraging success decreased to ensure more secure access to food.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.32201304)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.2412022QD026)。
文摘The transformation of natural habitats into human-modified landscapes has far-reaching consequences for species distribution and abundance.As species adapt to these changing environments,shifts in distribution patterns,niche dynamics,and interspecies interactions may occur,impacting biodiversity at multiple levels and potentially leading to ecosystem imbalances.This study aims to assess the impact of variations in vegetation composition and human disturbance on the distribution of sympatric breeding birds and to determine the extent of niche overlap or differentiation among these species.We conducted field surveys and collected data on bird distribution,vegetation composition,and level of human disturbance in eastern Inner Mongolian grasslands.We focused on the six most frequently co-occurring breeding birds,representing a mix of sparrows,larks,and corvids.Generalized Additive Models revealed varying responses of species occurrence along habitat gradients.Species like the Eurasian Skylark(Alauda arvensis),Mongolian Lark(Melanocorypha mongolica),and Asian Shorttoed Lark(Calandrella cheleensis),increased in larger and more connected habitats,while others,like the Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus),Eurasian Magpie(Pica pica),and Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica),adapted to more fragmented habitats.Niche analysis indicated habitat generalists tended to occupy larger niches than grassland specialists.Substantial niche overlap was also found among the six co-occurring bird species.Conservation efforts should consider the specific needs of specialist species and strive to maintain or restore critical grassland habitats.Additionally,promoting sustainable agricultural practices that balance the needs of birds and human activities can contribute to the coexistence of generalist and specialist bird species in modified landscapes.
基金the support of the Zoological Survey of Pakistan,and the Wildlife and Parks Department of Punjab for their assistance in this research。
文摘The Asian Houbara(Chlamydotis macqueenii),a vulnerable species,is under significant threat from habitat degradation and anthropogenic pressures in Pakistan's arid landscapes.This study addresses the urgent need for conservation by identifying critical habitats,analyzing the influence of environmental and human factors on species distribution,and projecting future habitat shifts under climate change scenarios.Using the Max Ent model,which achieves a robust predictive accuracy(AUC=0.854),we mapped current and future habitat suitability under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways(SSP126,SSP370,SSP585)for the years 2040 and 2070.Presently,the suitable habitat extends over 217,082 km^(2),with 52,751 km^(2) classified as highly suitable.Key environmental drivers,identified via the Jackknife test,revealed that annual mean temperature(Bio1)and slope play a dominant role in determining habitat suitability.Projections show significant habitat degradation;however,under SSP585,highly suitable areas are expected to expand by up to 24.92%by 2070.Despite this increase,vast areas remain unsuitable,posing serious risks to population sustainability.Moreover,only 2115 km^(2) of highly suitable habitat currently falls within protected zones,highlighting a critical conservation shortfall.These findings highlight the imperative for immediate,targeted conservation efforts to secure the species'future in Pakistan's desert ecosystems.
基金funded by USAID’s Community Partnerships to Strengthen Sustainable Development(Compass)Program implemented by U.S.Forest Service International Programs(Grant No.Compass-SA-2023-073).
文摘Protecting rare,endemic,and endangered species requires careful habitat evaluation to set strategic plans for mitigating biodiversity loss and prioritizing conservation goals.The endangered Asian elephant(Elephas maximus)exemplifies the urgent need for targeted conservation efforts,given its challenging habitat conditions.This study examines the impact of climate and land use changes on the suitable habitat distribution of Asian elephants.Utilizing ten predictor variables,including climatic,topographic,and land use data,and employing six ensemble Species Distribution Models(SDMs)alongside Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 data,the study estimates spatial changes and potential habitat expansions for Asian elephants across Tropical Asia.Occurrence data were gathered from field surveys in Bangladesh and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database for Sri Lanka,Myanmar,Bhutan,Cambodia,India,Laos,Nepal,Thailand,and Vietnam.To evaluate habitat suitability,the analysis considered two distinct socioeconomic pathways(SSP 245 and SSP 370)across two future periods(2041–2060 and 2061–2080).Results reveal a strong correlation between isothermality and habitat suitability,with higher isothermality enhancing the habitat conditions for Asian elephants.Among the SDMs,the random forest model demonstrated the highest performance.Projected scenarios indicate significant habitat fragmentation by 2061–2080,heightening the risk of species’vulnerability.Specifically,in SSP 245,the north zone is anticipated to experience a higher rate of habitat loss(588.443 km^(2)/year),whereas,in SSP 370,the west zone is expected to face a more severe rate of habitat loss(1,798.56 km^(2)/year).The eastern zone,which includes Cambodia,Vietnam,Laos,Thailand,and southern Myanmar,is notably at risk,with an estimated habitat loss of 14.8 million hectares.Anticipated changes in climate and land cover will impact the availability of essential resources such as food,water,and shelter,potentially driving the species to relocate to different elevation belts.The outcomes of the consensus map highlighting critical habitats and future fragmentation scenarios will support effective conservation and management strategies for the species.
文摘The authors regret that the scientific names of some species mentioned in the paper were incorrectly presented.The incorrect sci-entific names,their locations in the paper,correct spellings and refer-ences,are listed below.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42361144873)Yellow Sea Wetland Project(No.HHSDKT202312)the“Saving Spoon-billed Sandpiper”project of Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation(MCF)。
文摘Abundant food supply is crucial for the survival of long-distance migratory birds.The continued population decline of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper(Calidris pygmeae),a critically endangered shorebird,is primarily attributed to habitat loss and degradation.However,significant gaps remain in research on their diet and foraging habitat selection,limiting effective conservation and restoration efforts.In this study,we investigated the composition of macrobenthic communities,analyzing habitat and prey selection at the main foraging area of SBS in Tiaozini,Jiangsu Province of eastern China—their most critical staging site during southward migration.Our findings revealed 25 species of macrobenthos in foraging areas,with mobile epibenthos comprising the largest group by biomass,accounting for 73%,and having higher density and biomass nearshore.Observations of foraging Spoon-billed Sandpiper individuals indicated that shallow water habitats were their preferred foraging environments,where mobile epibenthos,which thrive in these habitats after the tide recedes,made up 81%of their biomass intake.We propose that shallow water habitats in intertidal mudflats serve as essential refuges for mobile epibenthos after tidal retreat,thereby providing Spoon-billed Sandpipers with access to high-quality food resources.Habitat protection efforts should prioritize habitats harboring extensive microhabitats with shallow water,especially the nearshore area,and further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the formation of these microhabitats,with the ultimate goal of restoring more high-quality habitats for the Spoonbilled Sandpiper.
基金financed by the Wildlife Conservation Program in 2009, administered by the State Forestry Administration of Chinasupported as a key subject by the Wildlife Conservation and Utilization Program in Yunnan Province (No. XKZ200904)
文摘We modeled foraging habitats of Hume’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus humiae) on a macro-habitat level using ArcGIS in an attempt to provide scientific reference for management and restoration of habitats. Field work was conducted from March to April in 2006 and 2008, and from October to November in 2005 and 2008 in Dazhong Mountain, Yunnan Province, southwestern China. The selection of ecological factors was estimated by means of a resource selection index, distance analysis and the method of hierarchical habitat selection. The foraging habitat patches were modeled spatially by ArcGIS. The results show that actual and potential foraging patches overlapped considerably in spring and autumn. The number and total areas of patches in the autumn were smaller than those in the spring. The minimum and average areas of patches in the autumn were larger than those in the spring, while the maximum areas of actual and potential foraging patches in the autumn were equal to those in the spring. Similarity in the selection for survival and safety consideration in both seasons was the main strategy for landscape factors of habitats by Hume’s Pheasant, while seasonal difference in selecting a landscape matrix was their secondary strategy, affecting landscape factors in the habitat. Changes of foraging patches in both seasons reflect a difference of resources requirement by the bird. Fragmentation and miniaturization of foraging patches would result in the formation of a meta-population of Hume’s Pheasant.
文摘[Objective] This study was conducted to determinate the contents of poliumoside and forsythoside B in Callicarpa kwangtungensis,so as to reveal the distribution of two index components（poliumoside and forsythoside B） in the plant and to compare the contents of these components in the medicinal materials from different habitats.[Methods] Comparison and analysis of the contents of the two target components in different parts（root,branch,leaf and fruit） of Callicarpa kwangtungensis from the same habitat and in Callicarpa kwangtungensis from different production areas were performed according to the pharmacopoeia standard.[Result]The highest content of poliumoside wasdetected in fruit,and the content of forsythoside B was the highest in the branch.The contents of the two kinds of components were in order of branch fruit leafroot;The contents of the components were four times higher than China pharmacopeia（0.5%） in Jian,Tonggu,Anyuan,and Ganzhou of Jiangxi Province and the fifth area,Taijiang County of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture（QMDAP）,among which Ganzhou and Taijiang showed the highest contents.[Conclusion] The differences of poliumoside and forsythoside B were obvious in different habitats and different parts of Callicarpa kwangtungensis.
基金Supported by National Science and Technology Support Program in "11 th Five-Year Plan"(2008BAJ10B06)~~
文摘Town-and-city concentration area is confronted with ecological degeneration due to the expansion of urbanization,and enriching urban bio-diversity is conducive to the improvement of ecological function of urban green system.The paper has studied how to increase urban bio-diversity by making use of urban green lands for protection and construction of wild animals' habitats,and proposed the significance and theoretical idea for protection and construction of wild animals' habitats.By taking ecological green lands design in Qinglongchang of Chengdu City for example,it has analyzed the current situation of animals' diversity;proposed to plan corridor,construct biological channel and provide multiporous habitats;listed plants' selection and collocation mode;and finally illustrated how to set artificial facilities for attraction of animals.It hopes to provide a reference for the design of ecological green lands in cities advocating the harmonious development of living environment and natural environment.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41871197,No.41271201The Doctoral Scientific Research Foundation of Liaoning Province,No.20170520280The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China,No.171104003
文摘Species abundance and habitat distribution are two important aspects of species conservation studies and both are affected by similar environmental factors. Forest resource inventory data in 2010 were used to evaluate the patterns of habitat for target species of Cervidae in six typical forestry bureaus of the Yichun forest area in the Lesser Xing’an Mountains, northeastern China. A habitat suitability index(HSI) model was used based on elevation, slope, aspect, vegetation and age of tree. These five environmental factors were selected by boosted regression tree(BRT) analysis from 14 environmental variables collected during field surveys. Changes in habitat caused by anthropogenic activities mainly involving settlement and road factors were also considered. The results identified 1780.49 km2 of most-suitable and 1770.70 km2 of unsuitable habitat areas under natural conditions, covering 16.38% and 16.29% of the entire study area, respectively. The area of most-suitable habitat had been reduced by 4.86% when human interference was taken into account, whereas the unsuitable habitat area had increased by 11.3%, indicating that anthropogenic disturbance turned some potential habitats into unsuitable ones. Landscape metrics indicated that average patch area declined while patch density and edge density increased. This suggests that as habitat becomes fragmented and its quality becomes degraded by human activities, cervid populations will be threatened with extirpation. The study helped identify the spatial extent of habitat influenced by anthropogenic interference for the local cervid population. As cervid species clearly avoid human activities, more attention should be paid on considering the way and intensity of human activities for habitat management as fully as possible.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(31670400,31672285,31660616)Guangxi Natural Science Foundation(2015GXNSFDA139013)+1 种基金Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection,Ministry of Education,ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology,Guangxi Normal University
文摘Comparative studies of sympatric species are essential for understanding behavioral and ecological adaptation as well as the mechanisms that can reduce resource competition to allow coexistence. Francois＇ langurs （Trachypithecus francoisi） and Assamese macaques （Macaca assamensis） are sympatric primate species found in the limestone seasonal rainforests of Nonggang Nature Reserve, southwestern Guangxi, China. To explore their different adaptation strategies, we collected data on diet using scan sampling at 15-min intervals. Our results revealed that Francois＇ langurs showed a more flexible diet composition than Assamese macaques Francois＇ langurs increased dietary diversity and mature leaf consumption in response to seasonal scarcity of preferred young leaves and fruits, whereas Assamese macaques relied heavily on young bamboo leaves （Indocalamus calcicolus） in most months These variations reflect the differences in digestive physiology, morphology, and the temporal and spatial distribution of food resources.
基金financial support from Research Deputy of Hormzgan University of Medical Sciences(Project No.3232)
文摘Objective:To determine the effects of environmental parameters of lanal habitats on distribution and abundance of anopheline mosquitoes in Rudan county of Iran.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted during the mosquito breeding season from February 2010 to October 2011. The anopheline larvae were collected using the standard dipping method,the specimens were identified using a morphological-based key.Simultaneously with larvay collection,environmental parameters of the larval habitats including water current and turbidity,sunlight situation,and substrate type of habitats were recorded.Water samples were taken from breeding sites during lanal collection.Before collection of samples,the water temperature was measured.The water samples were analysed for turbidity,conductivity,total alkalinity,total dissolved solid.pH and ions including chloride,sulphate,calcium,and magnesium.Statistical correlation analysis and ANOVA test were used to analyze the association between environmental parameters and larval mosquito abundance.Results:In total 2 973 lanae of the genus Anopheles were collected from 25 larval habitats and identified using morphological characters.They comprised of six species: An.dthali(53.21%),An.stephensi(24.22%),An.culicifacies(14.06%),An.superpictus(4.07%),An. turkhudi(3.30%),and An.apoci(1.14%).The most abundant species was An.dthali which were collected from all of the study areas.Larvae of two malaria vectors.An.dthali and An.stephensi, co-existed and collected in a wide range of habitats with different physico-chemical parameters. The most common larval habitats were man-made sites such as sand mining pools with clean and still water.The anopheline mosquitoes also preferred permanent habitats in sunlight with sandy substrates.The results indicated that there was a significant relationship between mean physicochemical parameters such as water temperature,conductivity,total alkalinity,sulphate,chloride, and mosquito distribution and abundance.Conclusions:The results of this study showed a correlation between certain environmental parameters and mosquito lanae abundance,and these parameters should be considered in planning and implementing larval control programs.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(No.2009CB118705)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30970358)
文摘The intestinal bacteria of vertebrates form a close relationship with their host.External and internal conditions of the host,including its habitat,affect the intestinal bacterial community.Similarly,the intestinal bacterial community can,in turn,influence the host,particularly with respect to disease resistance.We compared the intestinal bacterial communities of grass carp that were collected from farm-ponds or a lake.We conducted denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of amplified 16S rRNA genes,from which 66 different operational taxonomic units were identified.Using both the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means clustering and principal component analysis ordination,we found that the intestinal bacterial communities from the two groups of pond fish were clustered together and inset into the clusters of wild fish,except for DF-7,and there was no significant correlation between genetic diversity of grass carp and their intestinal bacterial communities(Mantel one-tailed test,R=0.157,P=0.175).Cetobacterium appeared more frequently in the intestine of grass carp collected from pond.A more thorough understanding of the role played by intestinal microbiota on fish health would be of considerable benefit to the aquaculture industry.
文摘Objective Faunal health is largely dependent on their soil environment and available litter quality. So the effects of different soil habitats and pesticides on citrate synthase (CS) activity of soil fauna and its population were studied. Methods The soil animals were collected from different pedoecosystems for habitat study. Whereas Vigna radiata based system was selected for pesticidal observations. The field was divided into five equal plots for control and treatment of γ-BHC, quinalphos, carbaryl and cypermethrin. Soil fauna was collected by quadrat method and extracted by Tullgren funnel. Individuals of a species having similar sizes were collected for the estimation of CS activity. They were homogenized and fractions were obtained by differential centrifugation. The activity of CS was assayed spectrophotometrically. Results Citrate synthase (CS) activity of beetle (Rasphytus fregi), woodlouse (Porcellio laevis) and centipede (Scolopendra morsitans) varied significantly with respect to changes in different soil habitats. Though the CS activity of R. fregi, P. laevis, and S. morsitans differed among themselves but the highest activity of CS in these animals was in V. radiata and lowest in A. nilotica based pedoecosystem. The aerobic capacity of centipede was maximum followed by woodlouse and beetle. The treatment of γ-BHC, quinalphos, carbaryl and cypermethrin significantly reduced the CS activity of these animals. γ-BHC showed maximum reduction in CS activity indicating highly toxic effect of organochlorine on aerobic metabolism of soil fauna. However, minimum reduction was observed in response to carbaryl (in beetle) or cypermethrin (in woodlouse/centipede) leading to impairment of aerobic capacity. The differences in pesticide effects might be assigned to the differences in chemical nature of pesticides and their interactions with below-ground fauna. Treatment of γ-BHC and quinalphos reduced the population of Acari, Coleoptera, Collembola, other arthropods as well as total soil fauna. Acari was least affected by γ-BHC and maximally affected (72%) in response to quinalphos. The effect of γ-BHC was fairly similar on Coleoptera, Collembola, other arthropod and total soil fauna suggesting almost similar sensitivity to this pesticide. Likewise, quinalphos was similarly effective on Collemobola and other soil arthropods. Application of carbaryl decreased Acari and Coleoptera population but increased Collembola, other arthropods and total faunal populations. However, application of cypermethrin significantly reduced the population of Acari, Coleoptera, Collembola and total soil fauna and increased the population of other soil arthropods. In both the cases, acarine population was least affected. Conclusion The observations show the habitat-specific variation in aerobic capacity of soil fauna. However, pesticide-dependent loss in population might be due to impairment of aerobic capacity of soil inhabiting animals in desert.
基金Supported by the Special Fund of Chinese Central Government for Basic Scientific Research Operations in Commonweal Research Institutes(East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute)(No.2011M01)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31170508)the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)(No.2010CB429005)
文摘Oyster reefs have an equivalent, complex 3-dimensional structure to vegetated habitats and may provide similar functions in estuarine environments. Nevertheless, few studies have compared oyster reefs with adjacent natural shallow-water habitats. Here the resident benthic macroinvertebrate communities in an artificial oyster （Crassostrea ariakensis） reef and in adjacent natural estuarine shallow-water habitats （salt marsh, intertidal mudflat, and subtidal soft bottom） in the Changjiang （Yangtze） River estuary were described. The mean total densities and biomass, Margalef＇s species richness, Pielou＇s evenness and Shannon-Weaver biodiversity indices of the resident benthic macroinvertebrate communities differed significantly among the habitats. Significantly higher densities and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates occurred in the oyster reef compared with the other three habitats. Ordination plots showed a clear separation in benthic macroinvertebrate communities among the four habitat types. The results demonstrated that the artificial oyster reef supported distinct and unique benthic communities, playing an important role in the complex estuarine habitat by supplying prey resources and contributing to biodiversity. In addition, the results suggested that the oyster reef had been restored successfully.
基金Supported by general and major projects of National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos 40876081,30570125,and 30499340(partly)the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program)(No 2008BAC49B01)Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No KSCX2-YW-Z-018)
文摘Combining some information from field investigation of algae along the coastal areas in China and a few pictures materialized from the western Yellow Sea in 2008,authors analyze the necessary conditions and possible water area in China producing a large biomass,some reasons for firestorm,and the possibility of the reappearance of marine bloom green alga Enteromorpha prolifera.The change of habitats and the increase of nutritional levels related to the water area could be considered as direct reasons.It was transferred northward by the combination of the flow of rainwater,wind and alongshore marine current.The original region of large biomass produced is possibly located in the southwestern Yellow sea.It will possibly be appearing again in the coming years or in the future.A summary is also given referring to its reproduction,development and distribution worldwide.
基金supported by the Management of Osun State University,Osogbo,Nigeria(Grant No.UNIOSUN/SET 11/004)
文摘Objective:To determine the larval habitats of mosquito fauna and possible impact of land use/land cover changes on the epidemiology of mosquito-bome diseases in Osogbo metropolis,Southwestern,Nigeria.Methods:All accessible larval habitats were surveyed between May and September,2011in Osogbo metropolis while Land Use/Land cover of the city was analyzed using 2 Lansat Multispectral Scanner satellite imagery of SPOT 1986 and T.ANDSAT TM 2009.Results:A total of six species namely,Aedes aegypti,Aedes albopictus,Aedes vittatus,Anopheles gambiae complex,Culex quinquefascialus and Erelmapodite chrysogaster were encountered during the study.The occurrence and contribution of disused tyres was significantly higher(P<0.05)than the other habitats encountered,while there were no significant differences in the contribution of gutters/run-offs.septic tanks/drums,ground pools/open drains and discarded containers lo the breeding of mosquitoes(P>0.05).The accessible land use/land covered of the study area between 1986 and 2009 showed that the wet land coverage and settlement area increased from 0.19 lo 9.09 hectare and 1.00 to 2.01 hectare respectively while the forest area decreased from 60.18 to 50.14 hectare.Conclusion:The contribution of the habitats coupled with the increasing rale of flooded environment which could provide ample breeding sites for mosquitoes call for sustained environmental sanitation and management in Osogbo metropolis.
基金supported by the grants of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30900138)the Henan University of Science and Technology Foundation(09001367)the Science and Technology Program of Henan Province(122102110035)to Jianli XIONG
文摘The morphological characteristics of the dorsal skin of trunk in two species of hynobiid salamanders, Batrachuperus pinchonii and Hynobius chinensis were examined by light microscopy. The basic structures of the skin in the two species are similar and consist of two layers： epidermis and dermis. The epidermis consists of stratum corneum, stratum intermedium and stratum germinativum, while the dermis is composed of a stratum spongiosum and stratum compactum. However, some species-specific variation has been identified （e.g., the distribution of capillary vessels and gland cells, and the thickness of skin）. H. chinensis is a terrestrial species and only lives in water during breeding period, but B. pinchonii is aquatic and remains aquatic throughout its lifetime. The differences in the distribution of capillary vessels and gland cells are related to their different habitats, and show a morphological adaptation.
基金Acknowledgements This study was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China （No 30860050）, Guangxi Science Foundation （0991095）, Monitoring and Conservation of Assamese macaques Project of National Forestry Administration of China, Guangxi Beibu Gulf Serious Specialization of Guangxi Natural Sciences Foundation （2010GXNSFE013004）, and Project of Creative Team from Colleges and Universities in Guangxi. We thank the Guangxi Forestry Bureau and Nonggang National Nature Reserve. We also acknowledge the critical comments of two anonymous reviewers.
文摘To enhance our understanding of dietary adaptations in macaques we studied the diet of the Assamese macaque Macaca assamensis in limestone seasonal rain forests at Nonggang Nature Reserve, China from September 2005 to August 2006. Our results show that although macaques fed on many plant species, 85.2% of the diet came from only 12 species, of which a bamboo species, Indocalamus calcicolus contributed to 62% of the diet. Young leaves were staple food items （74.1% of the diet） for Assamese macaques at Nonggang, and constituted the bulk of monthly diets almost year-round, ranging from 44.9% （July） to 92.9% （May）. Young parts of Indocalamus calcicolus unexpanded leaves contributed to a large proportion of the young leaf diet in most months. Fruit accounted for only 17.4% of the diet, with a peak of consumption in July. We suggest that this highly fo- livorous diet may be related to the long lean season of fruit availability in limestone habitats as well as the utilization of cliffs of low fruit availability
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.31472020,31172117)the Graduate Student Innovation Research Projects of Anhui University (YQH100287)
文摘Background: Wetland loss and degradation result in a reduction in the availability and quality of food for wintering waterbirds. Birds normally modify their foraging behavior to adapt to variations in food availability. In this study, we compared shifts in foraging behavior of Hooded Cranes(Grus monacha) in three different habitats at Shengjin Lake, China to understand the response of these cranes to changes in habitat.Methods: We investigated the food density and foraging behavior of Hooded Cranes in Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve from November 2014 to April 2015. We used regression equations to describe the changes in food density. A total of 397 behavioral observations were used in the analyses of their foraging efforts. We fitted a candidate set of generalized mixed linear models to analyze the relationship of foraging efforts and food density. We used a method of information theory to guide the selection of the model and Akaike's Information Criterion to calculate the value of each model. The relationship between food density, disturbances and foraging behavior was illustrated using a generalized linear model.Results: Along with the temporal variation and exploitation of food biomass, the food density varied widely among foraging sites. During the early winter period, foraging efforts were more pronounced in the paddy fields and meadows but not significantly different among the three habitats. The cranes spent more foraging effort in the paddy fields and meadows during the middle stage and in the meadows and mudflats during the late winter. The results of the generalized linear model showed that food density and disturbances had different effects on the rate of foraging success during the winter, while the effect of foraging effort was not significant. Furthermore, the rate of feeding success was markedly affected by disturbances in the paddy fields. The combined action of food density and disturbances had a significant effect on the rate of foraging success in the meadows, while the effect of foraging effort was also not significant in three habitats.Conclusions: Changes in foraging behavior were significant in three habitats, which were affected by food density and disturbances. The rate of foraging success increased in the habitat with low food density and low disturbances to increase the foraging efficiency in the lake. With abundant food and a high level of disturbance, the rate of foraging success decreased to ensure more secure access to food.
